"I cannot understand how Maurice could commit such an act of folly after
what I had just said to him. The baron's most cruel enemy has been his
own son. We must wait until to-morrow before deciding upon anything."
The next day they heard of the meeting at the Reche. A peasant who, from
a distance, had witnessed the preliminaries of the duel which had not
been fought, was able to give them the fullest details.
He had seen the two adversaries take their places, then the soldiers run
to the spot, and afterward pursue Maurice, Jean and Bavois.
But he was sure that the soldiers had not overtaken them. He had met
them five hours afterward, harassed and furious; and the officer in
charge of the expedition declared their failure to be the fault of the
Marquis de Sairmeuse, who had detained them.
That same day Father Poignot informed the abbe that the Duc de Sairmeuse
and the Marquis de Courtornieu were at variance. It was the talk of the
country. The marquis had returned to his chateau, accompanied by his
daughter, and the duke had gone to Montaignac.
Pages:
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562